This article was originally printed in the September/October 2026 issue of ‘hood Magazine. To see this article in print, and to read the rest of the issue, check out our digital issue
It’s easy to buy a Halloween costume, but for Samantha Westhoff, making costumes has become one of her favorite family traditions. For Samantha and her daughters, Jane, 3, and Elle, 1, it’s not just about what they wear; it’s about the memories they make creating them together.
“From wandering thrift stores and craft aisles to adding the finishing touches with makeup, felt, and hot glue, the process is just as fun as Halloween itself,” Samantha says.
Worth the Work
Samantha loves that their costumes are one of a kind. While they take more time, she says that’s part of the point. Making costumes gives her a chance to slow down, be creative, and spend quality time with her girls. As someone who has always loved drawing and designing, it’s also a creative outlet that “fills my mama cup up.”
Now, she gets to share that creativity with her daughters, and hopes they’ll remember making their costumes just as much as wearing them.
Jane especially loves getting into character. Samantha enjoys watching her imagination come to life as she steps into the role of whatever she’s dressed up as.
“That’s one of my favorite parts of DIY costumes: watching them light up when they get to become the character they helped create,” she says. “The costume becomes more than something they wear; it becomes a special part of our family traditions and the moments we’ll look back on for years to come!”
Family Themes
Some of Samantha’s favorite costumes have been family themes, including 101 Dalmatians and Dumbo. The Dumbo theme was especially meaningful because it was Elle’s first Halloween, and the family has always called her “Elle-phant.” The entire theme started with the idea of dressing her as an elephant, and the rest of the costumes were built around it.
The 101 Dalmatians costumes started with a cute black-and-white jacket Jane already had. From there, the family theme came together, with Jane completely embracing Cruella through her wild hair, drawn-on eyebrows and big personality, while baby Elle dressed as one of the dalmatians.
Don’t Overthink It
Samantha’s biggest advice for parents considering a DIY costume? Don’t overthink it.
“Start with something you already have, a favorite character, an animal, or even one small detail you love, and build from there,” she says. “Sometimes the simplest ideas become the most memorable ones!”
Let your kids be part of the process, whether they’re picking colors, choosing accessories, or helping with the hot glue, with supervision, of course! Embrace the mess and the memories instead of striving for perfection. Halloween will be magical not because of the costumes, but because of the love and laughter that went into making something together.
